One of Newcastle’s winter priorities is adding another top youngster to the ranks in addition to Garang Kuol. There has been no shortage of talented wonderkids attracting the club’s attention either domestically or from afar.
Some budding stars to hit the headlines recently includes Leeds right-back Cody Drameh and Velez Sarsfield playmaker Maximo Perrone. However, there was a talented teenager Newcastle were tracking before all these recent links came to light.
Early last summer, there were extensive links to Braga starlet Roger Fernandes. Newcastle have rekindled their interest in the now 17-year-old according to the latest from Sport Witness.
In June, there were a number of reports claiming Newcastle were preparing an offer that could reach £16m for the exciting winger. Ajax had already had a bid of £12m knocked back by Braga.
Fernandes was coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he racked up 11 appearances with 3 goals. He became the youngest player to play in the Portuguese top flight after his debut in August of 2021.
After catching the eye in a cup match last October, his manager at the time, former Swansea boss Carlos Carvahal, said the following about Fernandes, who was 15 at the time:
“It was unbelievable. I know football. This is not normal.
“I asked him the next day, ‘Where did you learn this? Who taught you? This is a complex position.’ He told me that he watched all of Braga’s games and when he had been told that he would play as a left winger, he spent all that day watching videos of Galeno (the injured player he replaced).
“He had studied his movements in the offensive phase, defensive phase and the transition.
“Wow. At 15 years old, this was something special. The modern young player does not like to watch full games but this boy had done all that he could to learn this position.”
A change at the top has resulted in a change of fortunes for Fernandes. In May, Carvahal had his request to terminate his contract granted. In came Artur Jorge, who dropped Fernandes to the B team, which plays in the Portuguese third tier.
According to reports in Portugal, Newcastle are hoping the youngster’s demotion leads to a drop in Braga’s asking price. No fee is mentioned in the latest report but his exclusion from the first team could significantly impact his value to Newcastle’s benefit.
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103 comments so far
Unused Substitute
Nov 24, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Comment #1All our goalkeepers are in their early thirties or thereabouts among whom Karius is the youngest. His stats are better than Darlow’s. It would be nice before a call is made about Karius he at least gets some game time. That should be affordable as we have a tight defense and a productive forward line.
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 10:51 AM
Comment #2May as well take it
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 10:51 AM
Comment #3The 2nd I meant…its the new 1st
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 10:53 AM
Comment #4Why shouldn’t Qatar host the World Cup?
Ignore the “indignant pundits”, says The Economist. Qatar is a “perfectly good choice” to host the World Cup. Yes, its migrant workers are often mistreated, and yes, there is less sexual freedom than in the West. But the same is true of Russia, the previous hosts, and China, which put on the most recent Olympic Games last winter. And unlike those countries, Qatar is moving towards democracy rather than away from it: the previous emir introduced elections “of a sort” and set up a news channel, Al Jazeera, that is much more outspoken than its Arab rivals. Compare that to Moscow and Beijing, where “no peep of political dissent” is tolerated. Hell, “the Argentine junta that hosted the World Cup in 1978 threw critics out of helicopters”. Qatar really isn’t the “despicable despotate of cartoonish editorials”. Gay sex is banned but so too is all sex outside marriage, in line with rules in “much of the developing world, and in almost all Muslim countries”. And while it may have used bribes to secure hosting rights, that says a lot more about Fifa than it does about Qatar. “The world is always going to have rich countries; it needs sporting authorities able to guard against undue influence.” We should be happy that the World Cup is being held in the Middle East, and a Muslim nation, for the first time. Besides, if we limited hosting duties to “blameless” countries, the tournament would have to “rotate among Finland, Norway and Sweden”. And no one wants that.
Mister Tuff
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:02 AM
Comment #5https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/333055334920505039/
Hahaha
cleveleysbob
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:06 AM
Comment #6Decent piece that DrG. Balanced. Unusual in this day and age. 🙂
cleveleysbob
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:12 AM
Comment #7DubaiMickey, thanks, I never considered a “spelling mistake” haha. 😀
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:14 AM
Comment #8Taco
Aye, Dub revealed his lack of team ethic at a crucial time… not a good look!
I’m with unusedsub…give Karius a shot, see if he’s got it!
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:19 AM
Comment #9Agreed, can try and get a few quid off someone for dubs … not really any way back the way he jumped ship
Flurzinho
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:23 AM
Comment #10Dubravka can do one!
No stomach for a fight and no team ethic.
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Comment #11Today at school we sang this in the morning assembly.
Old Bard of Benshan Bank had a farm EIEIO
One day working on his farm he fell ill EIEIO
With his zit face here, and his zit face there everywhere a zit face
Old Zit Face had a farm EIEIO
He drank his whisky, felt very frisky
Went to play with a pig he named dixie
Old Piggy Fiddler had a farm EIEIO
Now he felt alive, now he could thrive
Until he got attacked by a giant beehive
Old Farm Boy had a farm EIEIO
With his tractor here, and his tractor there
He became the farm worlds X-factor
Old Bard of Bensham Bank had a farm EIEIO
cleveleysbob
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:35 AM
Comment #12Watching Swiss v Camaroon, hoping to see Schar but unlikely. I have just noticed “Maccy D’s” on the advertising boards, someone must have spotted the mistake! 😀
cleveleysbob
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:36 AM
Comment #13That confirms it – 12 yo maximum. 🙂
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Comment #14Mort – You need to keep working, a life as a lyrical genius definitely isn’t waiting for you 😀
niafron
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #15Any information about some of our scouts at the world cup?
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment #16Or study harder at school
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:40 AM
Comment #17Ladies team on track to smash their own record for attendance at a Womans domestic match on Sunday:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-amanda-staveley-stadium-wish-25593437
Harley
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:43 AM
Comment #18On the last article.
I’d happily sell Fraser and let Ritchie and Dummet leave for free.
It frees up 3 places and none of them have what it takes to be a top 6 player.
In all honesty it’s only fraser who needs replaced as the other 2 have barely kicked a ball this season.
Their combined wages must be way over £100k per week. That’s a salary for one top player.
The Taco Taker
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:46 AM
Comment #19I haven’t seen any reports on our scouts at the WC Niafron, but they are bound to be there. It is probably a good thing that we are not hearing anything.
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Comment #20Don’t be so gloomy DrGloom.
Clevelybob should be cleverbob with his deduction.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:04 PM
Comment #21On a cheerier note that’s me done for the day and bagged three tickets for the Leeds game in the Gallowgate 😀
(Not in Strawberry corner mind 😕 )
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:09 PM
Comment #22Harley,
I think whatever purpose Dummet served and I can only imagine that was helping the new signings bed in, then surely that has been fulfilled now, I argued against his staying in the summer but Eddie H knows best. I just don’t see how he gets another extension.
Zhongguo Geordie
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:13 PM
Comment #23Well the main problem with Qatar is they entered a fair contest to host the world cup which many deserving teams tried to win, and simply bought it. They don’t understand the meaning of sport. The press are aiming at other things because they’ll threaten to sue if you say they cheated. Astounding silence on them cheating, so hammer them on any other means available such as the rainbow flag or the deaths of workers.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Comment #24Ok…Once more, with feeling…
…Some of the British players are required to fulfill the home grown quotas!!!
Someone will furnish us with the numbers, no doubt…
Hope this helps!
😉
Harley
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:20 PM
Comment #25Raj
Yes I agree. One of those where he’s been a good servant, thank you very much.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:22 PM
Comment #26ZG
Aye!
‘the Economist’, bastion of fairness and font of all…bollox?
😀
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Comment #27Harley,
I’ve never been one of those to scapegoat him or constantly slate him, I thought he was outstanding in the championship. But like Ritchie, Gayle, Clark etc his time is up. I’m not sure about this being kept on the staff, surely he’s got a bit to offer in the championship, league one or the MLS.
JohnJ
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:43 PM
Comment #28Looking back over old times on the blog I came across this re Tim Krul.
https://www.nufcblog.com/2009/09/22/34306/
Thought it may be of interest 🙂
JohnJ
Nov 24, 2022 at 12:46 PM
Comment #29By the way the only poster I can see from those days that posts now is, wait for it Drum Roll……………
G
Well done G for staying the course!
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:07 PM
Comment #30JohnJ,
sirjonastoon is still about as well I’m sure.
lesh
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:09 PM
Comment #31JohnJ
@ 29…..
There’ll be more before this one:
lesh
Sep 22, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Comment #22
With all due credit to the 50k runners who took part and brought great credit to themselves and Tyneside, here’s a very irrevent take on the Great North Run by one of the smaller tabloids!
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/record-numbers-escape-from-newcastle-200909212078/
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:14 PM
Comment #32In my English class I had to write a peom believe it or not so here it is.
There is a secret lab
Where lies a caged beast
Sir Pugalot is in charge to keep tab
On when its time for the beast to feast
Every full moon the beast gets to eat
And eat it will, all kinds of meat
After its meal it gets to write a poem
It writes this poem using a pseudonym
This pseudonym is The Bard of Bensham Bank
But its nickname is The Stain of a Hillbillies Wank
When it is satisfied with the poem it is locked back in its cage
With his shiny name tag ‘The Beast of Bemsham Bank’ on display in all its rage
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:17 PM
Comment #33*Bensham.
Still the teacher gave A plus
🙂
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:37 PM
Comment #34If only I could write as well as the Bard,
Surely it cannot be that hard!
Practice Mort, Practice!
Mort
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:44 PM
Comment #35Erm I got an A plus
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:45 PM
Comment #36This is following exactly the same stages as that Jedi character going from being a pest, then a nuisance to an irritant, the next step is being obscenely abusive. Watch this space.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:45 PM
Comment #37If we could let even just Richie and Dummett go and replace them with say Harrison/Maddison and Joao Pedro we would be insanely ready to rock for the next half of the season
We would still keep a homegrown player and Pedro wouldn’t need to be registered as he counts as under 21 for this season giving us a bit more breathing space
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:46 PM
Comment #38ZG – surely the ability to buy a world cup surely lies at FIFAs door, they allegedly also took money from Russia when they hosted it and it seems to have gone on since João Havelanges day
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:49 PM
Comment #39Ritchie, Dummett, Frasier and Lewis could be sold without any impact to the first team
DrGloom
Nov 24, 2022 at 1:51 PM
Comment #40We need eight home grown players in the squad so..
Pope
Darlow
BDB
Lascelles
Shelvey
Trippier
Targett
Anderson
Wilson
Longstaff
Murphy
Willock
We’re well stocked in home grown players